Pedro Francisco de Uriarte
Encyclopedia
Pedro Francisco Uriarte (June 29, 1758–August 30, 1839) was an Argentine
statesman and priest. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán
which on 9 July 1816 declared the Independence of Argentina
.
Uriarte was born in Santiago del Estero
and was taught at the local Convent of San Francisco. He studied arts and theology
at the Jesuit University of Córdoba
, and was ordained in 1782, becoming a sub-deacon in 1783, becoming a priest the same year. In 1786 he became chaplain in Buenos Aires
of the Santa Casa de los Ejercicios. In 1793 he became parish priest of Loreto
.
Uriarte was elected to represent Santiago del Estero in the Tucumán Congress and served for the declaration in 1816. When the Congress was dissolved in 1820, he and his colleagues were imprisoned as traitors. He returned to his parish of Loreto for the rest of his life. He died whilst giving mass for Saint Rosa of Lima and was buried in the church. His remains were rescued when a flood destroyed the building, and are now buried in the new church.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
statesman and priest. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán
Congress of Tucumán
The Congress of Tucumán was the representative assembly, initially meeting in Tucumán, that declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America on July 9, 1816, from the Spanish Empire....
which on 9 July 1816 declared the Independence of Argentina
Argentine Declaration of Independence
What today is commonly referred as the Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9, 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. In reality, the congressmen that were assembled in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, which is still today one of the legal names of the...
.
Uriarte was born in Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero
Santiago del Estero is the capital of Santiago del Estero Province in northern Argentina. It has a population of 244,733 inhabitants, making it the twelfth largest city in the country, with a surface area of 2,116 km². It lies on the Dulce River and on National Route 9, at a distance of...
and was taught at the local Convent of San Francisco. He studied arts and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Jesuit University of Córdoba
National University of Córdoba
The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...
, and was ordained in 1782, becoming a sub-deacon in 1783, becoming a priest the same year. In 1786 he became chaplain in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
of the Santa Casa de los Ejercicios. In 1793 he became parish priest of Loreto
Loreto, Santiago del Estero
Loreto is a city in the southwest of the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina. It has 9,854 inhabitants as per the , and is the head town of the Loreto Department. It is located 59 km south from the provincial capital Santiago del Estero, on National Route 9....
.
Uriarte was elected to represent Santiago del Estero in the Tucumán Congress and served for the declaration in 1816. When the Congress was dissolved in 1820, he and his colleagues were imprisoned as traitors. He returned to his parish of Loreto for the rest of his life. He died whilst giving mass for Saint Rosa of Lima and was buried in the church. His remains were rescued when a flood destroyed the building, and are now buried in the new church.